Bulldozer



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. COONTZ BULLDOZER INVENTOR. JOHN coow'rz ATTORNEYS FE G. 4

Jan. 10, 1967 Filed Aug. 51, 1964 Jan. 13, 1967 J. CQONTZ BULLDO Z ER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1964 INVENTOR. JOHN COONTZ MLZLW WW ATTQ R N EYS ite This invention relates to tractor implements, more particularly to material handling implements. Still more specifically this invention relates to improved bulldozer implements adapted to be mounted on a tractor. Still more specifically the invention relates to a bulldozer implement having a new improved means for operatively supporting the material moving blade that automatically provides a desired inclination.

A bulldozer implement, in general, is a wide, somewhat concave blade normally mounted on the front of a tractor on other propelling vehicle, and includes a means for controlling the elevation, that is, raising and lowering of the blade. The bulldozer is commonly used to move material, such as earth, snow, animal feed, and the like. In

transferring material from one location to another, the blade of a bulldozer is preferably supported in a substantially vertical position. This increases the height of the blade which increases the carrying capacity, and also reduces the likelihood that material will roll over the top of the blade. However, in operations requiring the removal of material, particularly very packed and/ or firm materials, it is desirable that the cutting edge of the blade be tilted or inclined in order to effect a cutting action.

Bulldozer implements are known to the prior art that are capable of changing the tilt of the blade. These bulldozers in general have two separate actuating means, namely a means to raise and lower the blade, and a second means to tilt the blade. This apparatus for controlling the elevation and inclination of the blade is relatively expensive, involves an additional control which requires more skill in the operation thereof. On relatively small tractors that have a limited capacity, the relatively high expense of providing this type of control means for the blade of a bulldozer is not economically feasible. Other bulldozing apparatus provide an adjustment whereby the blade can be tilted by manually changing the setting thereof. This change of setting is normally a manual operation which is very time consuming. This type of apparatus is not suited where the bulldozer operator must first remove the ground and then convey it subsequently to the removal. In general, the known bulldozer implements are not provided with a blade control mechanism that automatically provides the proper tilt or inclination as the blade is raised and lowered.

I have invented a new bulldozer attachment. The hulldozer attachment of my invention has a blade with a cutting edge and a means to apply a pushing force that is pivotally secured to the blade and also securable to the vehicle. A lift arm with a means to operatively connect the lift arm to the blade, and a means that is mountable on the vehicle for operatively supporting the lift arm are provided. The means for operatively supporting the lift arm is constructed when mounted to support the lift arm at a height that is greater than the vertical distance between the cutting edge of the blade and the means connecting the lift arm to the blade. A means is also provided to actuate said lift arm. My bulldozer attachment is adapted in use to be attached to a vehicle and in use to automatically tilt the blade as it is raised and lowered.

The bulldozer implement of my invention overcomes all of the disadvantages associated with bulldozer implements known to the prior art. In my bulldozer implement the blade angle, that is the vertical inclination is automatically changed as the blade is raised and lowered. When the blade is lowered into the earth or other material, to a cutting position the blade angle is increased, resulting in an up and over forward rolling effect for earth cut and removed by the blade. When the blade of my bulldozer attachment is level with the ground or slightly above, the blade is very nearly vertical, placing same in a very desirable inclination position for removing or conveying material. In my invention as the blade is raised it is again tilted backwardly to provide additional clearance between the cutting edge and the ground. In my invention these blade angles change automatically whenever the blade is raised and lowered thereby relieving the operator of the tractor of the additional duty of maintaining the proper angle of the blade. The construction of the bulldozer implement of my invention is relatively simple and dependable in operation and is relatively inexpensive to produce. The simplicity and inexpensiveness makes use of my bulldozer implement on relatively small tractors economically feasible. Still further my bulldozer attachment is very easy and simple to detach and remove from the tractor.

An object of my invention is to provide new material handling implements.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved bulldozer attachment that is simple and dependable in operation.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a bulldozer attachment for a tractor or the like that is very easy to operate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new bulldozer implement for a tractor or the like that is adapted to automatically maintain the blade during various types of operations at the most efficient blade inclination.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a new bulldozer implement for a tractor or the like that is relatively inexpensive to produce and maintain.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bulldozer implement that has a relatively high clearance between the bottom cutting edge of the blade and the ground.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a new bulldozer implement that is adapted to automatically maintain a desirable inclination of the blade as it is raised and lowered with a blade support mechanism which utilizes a specific geometric arm and linkage arrangement.

Other objects and advantages of the new bulldozer implement of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure. Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. These drawings depict the preferred specific embodiments of the new bulldozer implement of my invention, and it is to be understood that such drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred specific embodiment of my new bulldozer implement.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the specific preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1 showing detail of the rock shaft mounting structure.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing another preferred specific embodiment of the bulldozer implement of my invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of still another preferred specific embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view illustrating a preferred specific embodiment of my invention adapted to vary the angle of the blade.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the transverse cross section of the blade of my invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8.

The following is a discussion and description of the new bulldozer implement of my invention made with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. The discussion and description is of preferred specific embodiments of the new bulldozer implement of my invention, and it is to be understood that such is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. l4 illustrate a first preferred specificembodiment 1d of the new bulldozer attachment of my invention mounted on tractor 11. The bulldozer attachment depicted has an elongated transversely extending concave blade 12 having a bottom cutting edge 14. Two laterally spaced vertically extending blade support means 16 are mounted on the rear side of blade 12. Each of the blade support means consists of two mating elongated bars 18 having L-shaped cross sections secured to the blade in spaced relation. The elongated bars 18 are provided with a set of aligned apertures 20 on the bottom ends adjacent the bottom cutting edge 14 of the blade, and a second set of aligned apertures 22 on the top end vertically spaced from the cutting edge 14. Two elongated push bars 24, are provided. Each of the push bars 24 have apertures on the forward end and an apertured bracket 26 on the rear end. Pin means 28 are disposed in the first set of aligned apertures 20 in the mating elongated bars 18 to secure the push bars 24 to the blade 12. A push bar mounting means mountable on the tractor is provided. The push bar mounting means has two flat vertically disposed apertured plates 30 mounted on opposite sides of the tractor 11, a flat horizontal transverse plate 32 connected to the lower ends of plates 36), and transversely extending rod segments 34 welded or otherwise secured to the apertured plate 39 and transverse plate 32. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rod segments 34 protrude beyond the outer surfaces of plates 30. As illustrated in FIG. 2 the rod segments 34 are positioned in the apertured brackets 26 of push rods 2% to thereby pivotally secure the rear portions of the push rods 24 to tractor 11.

A means is provided to elevate and automatically tilt the blade 12 of the bulldozer attachment 10 of my invention. The means to elevate and automatically tilt the blade 12 consists of a transverse rock shaft 36, a mounting bracket 37 mountable on the forward end of tractor 11 for rotatably supporting rock shaft 36 at a height, that is a vertical distance above the ground, which is greater than the vertical distance between the cutting edge 14 of blade 12, and the second set of aligned. apertures 22 in the blade support means 16. This relationship is material to the automatic tilting operation of the blade, as will be explained later. The rock shaft 36 is supported by suitable bearings, as shown in FIG. 3. A pair of lift arms 38 are rigidly mounted on each end of rock shaft 36. The extending ends of the lift arms 38 are pivotally secured to the blade 12 with a pin means 40 disposed in apertures 22 and an aperture in the end of lift arms 38. The lift arms can be strengthened with a cross member 39, if desired, as shown in FIG. 1. A rocking arm 42 is rigidly secured to one end of the rock shaft 36. A hydraulic ram 44- having a cylinder and a piston rod 46 is used to actuate the elevating means of my invention. As shown in FIG. 2 the end of piston rod 46 is pivotally secured to the end of rocking arm 42. Hydraulic ram 44 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 43 which is in turn mounted on tractor 11. Conduit means is provided which communicate with the hydraulic ram 44 and the fluid pressure source on tractor 11. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, reciprocation of piston rod 46 in hydraulic ram 44- causes oscillation of rock shaft 36. Since the lift arms are secured to the rock shaft 36, they are caused to pivot in turn raising and lowering the blade 12. The means to elevate and automatically tilt the blade 12 operates to cause backward inclination of blade 12 as the blade is lowered downwardly with the cutting edge 14 depressed below the level of the ground. In this blade cutting position, earth removed raises upwardly and forward in a rolling effect, and such has been found very desirable. When the cutting edge 14 of blade 12 is slightly clear of the ground, the blade is in a substantially vertical position. As the blade is raised to the extreme elevated position, the blade 12 is again inclined rearwardly.

The automatic tilting or inclining of blade 12 is accomplished because push members 24- are of a relatively long length as compared to lift arms 38. By positioning the rock shaft 36 at a height above the point of connection of the ends of lift arms 33, the arc or radius of the lift arms tends to draw the top of the blade rearwardly as the blade is lowered into the earth in operating position. The lift arms become inclined downwardly thereby drawing the top of the blade 12 rearwardly. The same rearward inclining action also occurs when the blade is raised since the arms 38 again move the top of the blade rearwardly as they are pivoted upwardly beyond the horizontal position. Preferably the blade is not inclined when the pivot arms 38 are substantially horizontal, the position assumed when the cutting edge of the blade is slightly above the level of the ground. Thus the geometry of the blade support means is concerned with the relative lengths of the lift arms 38 and push rods, and the height of the rock shaft support compared to the vertical distance between the arm connection means and the cutting edge. The various specific shapes and structures of the push bar mounting means 30, the mounting bracket 38 for supporting the rock shaft, and the bracket 48 for pivotally supporting the hydraulic ram are dictated by the structure of the tractor that they are mounted on.

In FIG. 6 is depicted another preferred specific embodiment of the bulldozer attachment of my invention. The bulldozer attachment 60 has a transversely extending blade 12 having a bottom cutting edge 14, and two laterally spaced vertically extending blade support means 16 of the same general construction described in connection with the bulldozer embodiment 10 of my invention and illustrated most clearly in FIG. 4. The blade support means 16 has a first set of apertures 20 adjacent the lower portion of the blade, and a second upper set of apertures 22 adjacent the top portion of the blade in spaced vertical relation to the cutting edge 14. Two elongated push bars 62 are provided having an aperture on the forward end and an apertured bracket 64 on the rear end. A pin means 28 is disposed in the apertures 20 of blade :12 and the aperture in the forward portion of push bar 62 to pivotally secure same to the blade. A main frame is provided that is mountable on the tractor. The main frame has two longitudinally extending spaced members 66 which are preferably connected with a transverse member 68 connected to the forward end portions of members 66. The main frame is ordinarily bolted to the frame of the tractor. The precise shape of the main frame is distorted by the type, size, and model of tractor the bulldozer is to be mounted on. Two upright relatively short members 68 are secured to the rear ends of members 66. Transversely extending protruding shaft portions 69 are secured to the bottom ends of upright members 68 which shaft portions are disposed in the apertured bracket 64 of push member 62. This arrangement provides a desirable arrangement for applying a pushing or propelling force from the tractor to the blade 12. A means to automatically tilt the blade 12 as it is raised and lowered is provided, which means is similar to the structure described in the previous embodiment 10. This means to elevate consists of a rock shaft 36 pivotally mounted in a bearing, or the like, which is secured to upright relatively short members 70, which members are in turn secured to the elongated side members 66 of the main frame. As in the previous embodiment the rock shaft 36 is supported on hearing eleents. The bearings are secured to upright members 70 and support the rock shaft 36 at a height which is greater than the vertical distance between the cutting edge 14 of the blade and the apertures 22 in the mounting brackets 16. A pair of lift arms 38 are rigidly secured to rock shaft 36, which lift arms have the extending ends pivotally secured with a pin 40 disposed in aperture 22.

A rocking arm 42 is secured to the rock shaft 36. A pivot arm 72 is provided, which is pivotally mounted on member 66 with a suitable mounting means 74. A link member 76 is pivotally secured at one end to the extending end of rocking arm 42 and at the other end to the extending end of pivot arm 72. A hydraulic ram 80 has a cylinder and a piston rod 82. Piston rod 82 is pivotally secured to the intermediate portion of the rocking arm 72. Suitable conduits-50 are connected to a source of fluid under pressure and serve to provide an actuating force for moving the hydraulic ram. The hulldozer attachment operates with the same general principal described in the foregoing bulldozer embodiment with respect to elevating and automatically tilting the blade 12.

Still another specific embodiment 90 of my bulldozer attachment is illustrated in FIG. 5. Bulldozer attachment 90 has a blade 12 having a bottom cutting edge 14, and mounting brackets which have the same general construction illustrated in specific detail in FIG. 4. The attachment includes push rods 92 suitably secured to blade 12 and the tractor. A rock shaft 36 is provided which has a mounting means 94, which pivotally supports the rock shaft at a height which is greater than the vertical height between the bottom cutting edge 14 of blade 12 and the upper apertures 22 in the mounting brackets. As illustrated, lift arms 38 and a rocking arm 42 are secured to rock shaft 36 in a manner similar to the previous embodiments. A link means 95 is connected at one end to the extending end of rocking arm 42 and at the other end to a bracket 96 mounted on a frame 98, which is mounted or otherwise secured to the tractor. In this embodiment the blade is permanently held in a single position. The position or height of the blade is governed by the length of link 95, which can be adjustable in length if desired.

In FIG. 7 is illustrated apparatus for changing the transverse angle of blade 12. The apparatus for changing the blade angle consists of two of a first rectangular plate :100 and a second narrower plate 102. The plates as indicated in FIG. 7 have a first end attached to blade 12 positionable between elongated bars 18, a second opposite end or side secured to the lift arms and push bars. The plates 100 and 102 can be used without modifying the existing structure of any of the aforedescribed embodiments and will not adversely influence the operation thereof. The plates 100 and 102 can be used in any of the aforedescri bed embodiments to provide a transverse angle to the bulldozer blade.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 are depicted a side plate 104 that can be attached to the ends of bulldozer blade 12. The plates 104 increase the conveying capacity of the blade since they prevent earth or other material being moved from spilling off the end.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications of the preferred bulldozer attachments of my invention as described herein can be made or followed without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A bulldozer attachment for a tractor having a fluid pressure source comprising, an elongated transversely extending concave blade having a bottom cutting edge, two laterally spaced vertically extending blade support means mounted on the rear side of said blade, each of said blade support means comprising two mating elongated bars having L-shaped cross sections secured to said blade in spaced relationship and having a first set of aligned apertures on the bottom ends adjacent said bottom cutting edge of said blade and a second set of aligned apertures on the top ends vertically spaced from said cutting edge, two elongated push bars, each having apertures on each end, pin means disposed in said first sets of aligned apertures securing the forward ends of said push bars to said blade support means on said blade, push bar mounting means having two flat vertically disposed apertured plates mountable on opposite sides of a tractor, a flat horizontal transverse plate connected to the lower ends of said aperrtured plates, transversely extending rod segments secured to said apertured plates and said transverse plate with end portions protruding beyond the outer surfaces of said apertured plates, said end portions of said rod segments disposed in the apertures on the rear ends of said push bars, a means to elevate and automatically tilt said blade comprising, a transverse rock shaft, a mounting bracket mountable on the forward end of the tractor for rotatably supporting said rock shaft on the tractor at a height which is greater than the distance between said cutting edge of said blade and said second set of aligned apertures in said blade support means and positioned adjacent the forward portion of said push bars, a pair of lift arms rigidly mounted on each end of said rock shaft and pivotally secured at the extending ends to said second set of apertures in said blade support means, a rocking arm rigidly secured to one end of said rock shaft, a hydraulic ram having a cylinder and a piston rod secured to the extending end of said rocking arm, a bracket mountable on said tractor, means pivotally securing said hydraulic ram to said bracket, conduit means communicating with said hydraulic ram and connectible to the fluid pressure source of the tractor, said bulldozer attachment adapted in use to be attached to a tractor with said means to elevate said blade being operable to automatical- Iy tilt the upper portion of same rearwardly as it is raised and lowered from a vertically extended position.

2. A bulldozer attachment for a tractor comprising, an elongated transversely extending blade having a bottom cutting edge, two laterally spaced vertically extending blade support means mounted on the rear side of said blade, each of said blade support means having a first lower aperture, and a second upper aperture vertically spaced from said cutting edge, two elongated push bars, each push bar having apertures on each end, bolt means securing the forward end of said push bars to said first apertures in said blade support means on said blade, push bar mounting means mountable on a tractor rearwardly of said blade having two transversely spaced connection means for pivotally mounting the rear end portions of said respective push bars, a means to elevate and automatically tilt said blade comprising, a rock shaft, a mounting bracket mountable on the tractor forwardly of said push bar mounting means for rotatably supporting said rock shaft, said mounting bracket constructed when mounted to pivotally support said rock shaft at a height that is greater than the distance between the cutting edge of said blade and said second aperture in said blade bracket means, a pair of lift arms rigidly mounted in spaced relation on said rock shaft and pivotally secured at the extending ends to said second aperture in said blade support means, a rocking arm rigidly secured to said rock shaft, a hydraulic ram having a cylinder and a piston rod secured to the extending end of said rocking arm, means mounting said hydraulic ram relative to said rock arm, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said hydraulic ram, said bulldozer attachment adapted in use to be attached to a tractor with said means to elevate said blade being operable to automatically tilt the upper portion of same rearwardly as it is raised and lowered, respectively, from a vertically extended position.

3. A bulldozer attachment for a tractive vehicle comprising, an elongated generally transversely extending blade having a bottom cutting edge, a pair of longitudinally extending elongated push member means, means pivotally securing the forward ends of said push member means to the lower portion of said blade, means pivotally connecting the rear opposite end of said push member means to the rear portion of the tractive vehicle, a transversely extending rock shaft, a pair of laterally spaced lift arms rigidly secured at one end to said rock shaft, means securing said opposite extending ends of said lift arms to the upper portion of said blade in spaced vertical relation to said cutting edge, a means mountable on the forward portion of the tractive vehicle for rotatably supporting said rock shaft, said last-mentioned means constructed when mounted to pivotally support said rock shaft at a height that is greater than the distance between the cutting edge of said blade and said means pivotally securing the extending ends of said lift arms, a rocking arm rigidly secured to said rock shaft, an actuating means secured to the extending end of said rocking arm, said actuating means operable to move said lift arms to a horizontal position with said blade vertically extended, and said actuating means operable to raise and lower said lift arms from said horizontal position and simultaneously tilt the upper portion of said blade rearwardly.

4. A bulldozer attachment for a tractor comprising, a blade having a cutting edge, two longitudinally extending push members, means pivotally mounting the forward ends of said push members to said blade, means pivotally securing the rear end portions of said push members to the rear portion of the tractor, a rock shaft, a plurality of lift arms on said rock shaft, means pivotally securing the ends of said lift arms to an upper portion of said blade, a mounting bracket mountable on the tractor for rotatably supporting said rock shaft, said mounting bracket constructed to support said rock shaft at a height which is greater than the distance between said cutting edge of said blade and said means pivotally securing the ends of said lift arms to same, a rock arm secured to said rock shaft, a pivot arm, means pivotally mounting said pivot arm on said tractor, a link means operatively connecting said rock arm and said pivot arm, actuating means for moving said pivot arm, said push members substantially longer than said lift arms whereby said blade extends vertically when said lift arms extends horizontally, and the upper portion of said blade being automatically tilted rearwardly as it is raised and lowered from the vertically extended position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,446,136 7/ 1948 Jarmin 37144 2,522,583 9/1950 Remington 37144 2,565,337 8/1951 Allan 37144 2,967,364 1/1961 Warner et al. 37-144 2,974,430 3/1961 Bernotas 37144 3,005,275 10/ 1961 Febre 37-144 FOREIGN PATENTS 741,608 12/1955 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

JOE O. BOLT, JR., W. A. SMITH III, Examiners. 

3. A BULLDOZER ATTACHMENT FOR A TRACTIVE VEHICLE COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING BLADE HAVING A BOTTOM CUTTING EDGE, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED PUSH MEMBER MEANS, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID PUSH MEMBER MEANS TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID BLADE, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE REAR OPPOSITE END OF SAID PUSH MEMBER MEANS TO THE REAR PORTION OF THE TRACTIVE VEHICLE, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ROCK SHAFT, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED LIFT ARMS RIGDLY SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID ROCK SHAFT, MEANS SECURING SAID OPPOSITE EXTENDING ENDS OF SAID LIFT ARMS TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BLADE IN SPACED VERTICAL RELATION TO SAID CUTTING EDGE, A MEANS MOUNTABLE ON THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE TRACTIVE VEHICLE FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID ROCK SHAFT, SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS CONSTRUCTED WHEN MOUNTED TO PIVOTALLY SUPPORT SAID ROCK SHAFT AT A HEIGHT THAT IS GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CUTTING EDGE OF SAID BLADE AND SAID MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING THE EXTENDING ENDS OF SAID LIFT ARMS, A ROCKING ARM RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID ROCK SHAT, AN ACTUATING MEANS SECURED TO THE EXTENDING END OF SAID ROCKING ARM, SAID ACTUATING MEANS OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID LIFT ARMS TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION WITH SAID BLADE VERTICALLY EXTENDED, AND SAID ACTUATING MEANS OPERABLE TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID LIFT ARMS FROM SAID HORIZONTAL POSITION AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TILT THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BLADE REARWARDLY. 